Pressure-applying pad



June 25, 1940. 5 J, NN 2,205,400

PRESSURE APPLYING PAD Filed April 1, 1937 Fig. 3.

Patented June 25, 1940 UNITED STATES PRESSURE-FAPPLYING PAD Sidney J. Finn, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough .of Flemington, N. .lL, a corporation of 'New Jersey Application April 1, 1937, Serial No. 134,364 In Great Britain November 17,1936

30 Claims. (01. 12-38) v This invention relates to improvements in pads for applying pressure to the soles of shoes and is illustrated herein as embodied in a pad particularly adapted for use in cement-attaching .5 soles to compo shoes.

The improved padis illustrated as; installed in a pad box of a cement sole attaching ,machine of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,047,185, granted July 14, 1936, upon application of Ballard et al., the shoe, in this instance, being located on the pad and the'pressure being applied by movement of abutments, one engaging the forepart of the shoe and the other the top of the last. Objects of this invention are to provide a solid pad of rubber or analogous material well adapted to this work, the shank portion of which can readily adapt itself to the transverse and longitudinal curvature of the shank portions of various lasts and is capable of adjustment to adapt it for use with lasts of various sizes and styles,

and to provide means for controlling the,wrap-- ping effect of the pad at the forepart of the shoe,

of which have flat foreparts.

With these objects in view, the invention consists of a pad having a solid rubber forepart and heel part and a shank partwhich is made up of a plurality of solid sections capable of independent movement so that the shank portion of the pad and the relation of the shank portion to the forepart may be automatically varied in accordance with the shape of the particular shoe presented to the pad. Preferably the sections of the shank part of the pad extend transversely of the pad, the planes of separation of the-sections being substantially perpendicular to the shoe-engaging face of the pad. As illustrated, the pad as a whole rests upon a fluid-filled bag and-each section of the shank portion of the pad .is enclosed in' a metal casing, which casing rests against the top of said bag. The, pad sections, therefore, can, in response to pressure ofthe shoe, change their positions with respect to each other both bodily heightwise of the pad and about axes extending lengthwise of the pad to cause the pad to accommodate itself to the longitudinal contour of a shoe at the shank portion and to bear evenly on thetwo sides thereof. a

Preferably and as illustrated, each section of the shank portion is divided substantially along the median line of the shank portion of the shoe and the two rubber parts constituting each section may be adjusted laterally of the pad in their thus facilitating the production of shoes the soles casing to vary thedistance between their adjacent ends, thereby adaptingthe pad for opera- 3 tion on shoes having narrow, or relatively narrow,

shanks or on shoes the shank portions of which have pronounced right and left characteristics. Preferably the pressure along the longitudinal median line of the shank isrelieved by forming.

therein a groove along said line, which groove relieves pressure on the median portion of the shank and causes pressure to be concentrated on the marginal portion. The width of the groove may be varied-by shifting the rubber parts as above explained. i

It is to be understood that the term .rubber is used herein in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense and is intended to include all amount of wrap is desired. I i

For more positively controlling the pressure on the toe end of the shoe the forepart pad may be split longitudinally from its toe end and a triangular rigid plate inserted, the plate being held from upward displacement due to the pressure of the water bag and thus preventing the pad from producing too much longitudinal curvature in the sole at the toe end of the shoe. I

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description when read in connection with the ac- 'Theforepart pad maybe used either side up and .one side is provided with a concave surface which is used as the top side of the pad when a greater companying drawing and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, I Fig. 1 is a side view, in longitudinal median section, of a pad and pad box embodying the a present invention; a I I Fig; 2 is an exploded perspective view of the top pad showing the sectional construction; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pad in the pad boXwith the pad cover in position, some of the parts being broken away.

The illustrated pad is particularly suitable for a use in a pad boxof the'type disclosed in the abovementioned patent. As illustrated, a padbox l0 and a water bagIZ similarto those disclosed in the'saidpatent are provided, the water bag l2 resting upon pivoted and angularly adjustable bottom parts it, it of the box. The water bag I2 is preferably made of relatively soft rubberv and 35 pad which is arranged to press the shank portion is filled, but not distended, with water to provide a relativelysoft and yielding support for the overlying solid rubber pad to be described and to withstand the downward thrust of the top pad when pressure is exerted upon a shoe located thereon. Resting upon the water bag is a sectional sole pressing pad which preferably is of solid'rubber throughout its length and width. This pad comprises a forward portion or section l8 which is of ample size to receive the forepart of a sole and to support the sole of a large shoe from the toe to the ball line, this portion comprising a solid block of relatively firm but resilient rubber. Under some circumstances it is desirable to form this forepart block of rubber of diiferent degrees of hardness, the portion of softer rubber being located beneath the outer side of the forepart of the shoe. In Fig. 3 the line of demarcation between the harder rubber and the softer rubber is indicated by the line 20, the harder portion indicated at 22 being shaped to support the toe portion and the inner side of the shoe and the softer part being located to support the outer side of the sole from substantially the tip line to the ball line. That portion of the pressing pad which is to engage the sole from about the heel breast line rearwardly is a solid block of rubber 26, this block having the same extent widthwise of the pad as the forepart block l8 but being somewhat thicker than that block in order that the heel end of the shoe may lie flat upon it while the forepart of the shoe lies flat upon the forepart block I8.

The intermediate portion of the sole pressing of the sole from the ball line to the breast line consists ofa series of sections each comprising a pair of rubber parts or members 28, 3D, the adjacentends of the pairs lying along the median line of the pad. The number of sections in the shank portion of the pad is illustrated as seven,

each section being substantially half an inch in thickness, the planes of separation between the comprising a member 28 at one side of the pad and a member 30 at the other side of the pad has a top contour complemental to the transverse curvature of the part of the shank portion of the shoe upon which it is intended to apply pressure. For the purpose of identification, those members 2% on the inner side of the pad are marked 5R. to TB and those members on the outer side of the pad are marked 5| R to 51R, the R. indicating that these members are to be used on a pad intended forright shoes. On a pad intended for left shoes similar members will be marked with similar numbers and the letter L. These numbers are preferably molded on the members for convenience in assembling and interchanging them. When the shank sections are close together (Fig. 3) the rubber members 28, 38 present a substantially continuous surface which, as a whole, is substantially complemental to the'shank portion of a last for a shoe which isto carry a heel of average height;

,.,Each pair of members 28, 30 is preferably mounted in an open-topped boxor casing 32 of thin metal resting on the water bag I2 and having a fiat bottom of a Width equal to that of the thickness of the members 28, 30, the box ing the sole-attaching operation.

being of the same length as the Width of the pad. The members 28, 30 fit fairly tightly within the'casing 32 which, therefore, maintains them in alinement widthwise of the pad and provides a carrier whereby the pair may tilt or rock as a single unit about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe in casetheshank portion of a shoe should bear throughthe sole harder against one of the members than against the'other dur- The adjacent ends of the each pair of members 28, 30 are cut away so as to provide a gap between them some halfinch or so in width and this gap is filled by a pair of spacing blocks 34 (Fig. 2) placed in the gap.

The metallic casing 32 for each section is of less height than the height of the rubber memshorter than the height of the adjacent ends of the members 28, 36. Above the upper ends of the spacing blocks 34 each of'the members 28, 36 is cut' back or rabbetedfat 38 so that, considering the shank portion of the pad as a whole, a"

groove is formed extending lengthwise cf the shank portion of the pad and of a width such that the shank of a shoe will bridgeit with its marginal portions resting on and supported by the adjacent ends of the surfaces 36 so'that the sole-attaching pressure is concentrated alongthe marginal portions of the shank of the shoe and is relieved along the central portion or longitudinal median portion thereof.

The shank portion of the pad may be adapte for shoes having narrow shanks by removing one of the spacing blocks 36' between one pair of the members 28, and inserting it between the member and the end of the casing and, of course, repeating thev operation for each pair. In the case of an extremely narrow shank, both the spacing blocks may be removed. and 'one placed between the end of the casing and the member 28 of the pair and the other between the end of the casing and the member 30 of the pair, the other pairs being similarly treated. Shifting of some or all of the spacing blocks may be utilized to adapt the pad for varying conditions of work and for extreme right and left characteristics of shoes. Also, some of the members 28 or 30 may be interchanged in their casings or members of different shape substituted therefor to enable pressure to be accentuated or relieved at different of the sole, so that whenpressure is applied to the shoe to force it against the pad the pad will apply pressure to the marginal portions of the soleto cause them to conform to the shape, of the shoebottom, the pressure being relieved along the central portion of the shank where it is unnecessary. Each section of the shank portion of the pad comprising a pair of members 28,30 and a casing 32 is entirely disconnected from each of the other sections, all of the sections of course resting upon the water bag l2. If, therefore, when the shoe is pressed upon the pad greater pressure is received by one end of a section than is received by its opposite end, that section can tip about an axis extending longitudinally of the shoe to equalize the pressure on the opposite margins of the sole, and, if the pressure upon one section is greater than that upon other sections, that section will be bodily depressed against the water bag and other sections upon which pressure is less will be raised because of the uniform distribution of pressure in the water of the bag.

To maintain the shank sections in correct widthwise relation to the heel end block 26, a

U-shaped metallic member 46 is provided which embraces the block 26 and extends along the ends of the casings 32 to hold them in proper alinement with the block-26. Corner pieces 42 on the member 46 prevent its moving upwardly withrespect to the block 26. Any excess of space between the shank sections and the block 26 may be taken up by introducing one or more plates 43 between the rear of the shank section and the block 26.

It will now be understood that when a shoe is urged downwardly against a sole resting on the pad, for example by the means disclosed in the patent above referred to, the various shank sections can descend into the water bag i2 to varying extents and can each'readily descend deeper into the latter at one side than at the other. Thus, each shank section is able to accommodate itself to bear evenly against the'opposite margins of that portion of the sole which it engages and is caused to take up the heightwise position necessary to press that portion of the sole hard against the shoe, the resultbeing that the margins of the shank portion of the sole will be forced with substantially uniform pressure against the shank portion of the shoe both throughout the whole of the length of the shank portion and at opposite sides thereof. When any such relative movement of the sections as above described occurs, the water in the bag l2 will, of course, distribute itself evenly throughout the bag, thus insuring that the upthrust exerted by the bag on the various shank sections on the forepart block I8 and heel block 26 will be consistent throughout the area of the pad. The casings 32 prevent the members 28, 30 from bending individually- The forepart block I8 of the pad consists of a solid block of resilient but relatively firm rubber and one of its faces may be made slightly concave, as indicated on the lower face in Fig. 1. This arrangement will be used for shoes having flat foreparts with little wrap, that is, upward bending of the marginal portions of the sole. When more wrap is required the block [8 may be turned over to present its concave face uppermost. In case substantially flat forepartsare required, a thin resilient metal plate 44 of the same general shape as the forepart block may be placed on the upper surface of the latter so as to lie between the pad and the sole. If, as may sometimes happen, the use of this arrangement produces too much upward bending of the solo at ated with the toe end portion of the plate-44 fur ther to reduce the flexibility of its forward portion. This plate 46, as shown, is of the same general'shape as" the forward end of the plate 44 and extends somewhat beyond the periphery of the latter (see Fig. 2). the plates 44, 46in proper relation to each other, it is preferable to pivot them together at 48. The pivot, however, is preferably arranged so that the platescan be separated and used singly if desired. When used with one or both of these plates, the pad is not only more effective in producing flat foreparts but also in flattening down pleats or bunches in the upper material on the shoe bottom and preventing such bunches or irregularities from being impressed on the outer face of the sole. If desired, the plate 46 may be rotated on its pivot to vary its strengthening-effect upon the plate 44, as occasion may require.

Sometimes it is desirable to control the wrap, particularly the longitudinal curvature of the sole at the toeportion only of the shoe. Accordingly, as illustrated, the forepart pad is may be split at 49 midway ,of its thickness from the toe end toward the ball line and a triangular plate 56 introduced. As shown, the apex 52 of the triangle is. blunted and is disposed toward the lower side of the pad as viewed in Fig. 3 which shows a padintended for a right shoe. In the pad for-the left'shoe it is disposed toward the opposite side so that thepoint of the triangle will be substantially under the center of the toe, and, of course, the larger the shoe operated upon the more'of the triangle will be disposed under the shoe bottom, thus making its effect in pre venting upward curvature of the sole proportionalto the size of the shoe. On the outer endof the plate 50 is a flange 54 which engages the lower face of a mask plate 56 on the pad box l0 and thus supports the plate 50 to prevent upward curling of the toe portion of the forepart pad l8 in response to pressure of the shoe against it.

Although the various portions of the pad when assembled in operative position present a substantially continuous pressing surface for the shoe, particularly when the applied pressure causes the various rubber sections to spread into engagement with each other, it is preferable, in order to save wear on the various rubber sections In order to maintain as well as to afford a completely continuous surface for engagement by the shoe, to provide a .cover for the pad. This cover is illustrated at 60 and may comprise an outer layer 62 of leather and an inner layer 64 of rubber, the layers being preferably vulcanized together. The layers may also be-united by stitches as shown at 66 if desired. The forepartof the cover 60 is of substantially the same size as the forepart block l8 and to hold it in position its marginal portion is slipped under the mask plate 56. At the shank portion the cover may be cutaway at each side, leaving, however, a width greater than that of the shank portion otany shoe which is to be operated upon. The rear end of the cover is of a width to fit between lugs 68 70 formed on the heel end block 26 and is removably held in place by having its end slipped under clips 12, 14 which are attachedto the pad box It] and have their upper ends bent inwardly to overlie the margin of the cover. To hold the plate 44 in place as well as to locate the cover with respect tothe pad and to prevent relative movement between them,

the cover is provided on its under side with a through a hole 18 in the plate 44 and-to enter a corresponding hole in the forepart pad 18. To make the protuberance 16 more durable and prevent its shearing oil, a cylindrical metal shell having-perforated lugs 82 thereon is secured to the layer 64 of the cover, the metal shell being filled wtih rubber.' This can readily be done by vulcanizing the layer 64 in a mold having a hole to receive the cylindrical part of the shell, the perforated projections becoming embodied in the layer 64 and the metal shell being filledwith rubber due to the pressure applied to the rubber while in the heated mold.

It will be seen that by slipping the rear end of the cover from under the clips I2, 14 it may be lifted up far enough to release the projection 16 from the hole 18, thus affording access to the plates 44, 46 to permit removal or exchange of them and, of course, the cover may be removed by moving it endwise rearwardly to disengage the margin of its forepart from the mask plate 56.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A pad for use in applying pressure to the bottom of, a shoe comprising a single resilient forepart portion adapted to apply pressure to substantially the entire forepart of the sole of the shoe, 2. single resilient heel portion adapted to apply pressure to substantially the entire heel portion of the sole, and a shank portion divided into a plurality of sections.

2. A pad for use in applying pressure .to the bottom of a shoe comprising a single resilient forepart portion adapted to apply pressure to substantially the entire forepart of, the sole of the shoe, a single resilient heel portion adapted to apply pressure to substantially the entire heel portion of the sole, and a shank portion divided into a plurality of transversely extending sections."

3. A pad for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having its shank portion divided into a plurality of separate sections, said sections comprising a plurality of pairs of members, the lower portions of each pair being housed in a metal casing and the casings being in contact with each other.

4. Apparatus for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a water bag and a pad of. solid sections overlying the bag, said sections comprising a single forepart section and a plurality of shank sections, each shank section having a contour substantially complementary to the transverse curvature of the part of the shank portion of the shoe which it is to engage.

5. A pad for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe comprising a single resilient forepart portion adapted to apply pressure to substantially the entire forepart of the sole of. the shoe, a single resilient heel portion adapted to apply pressure to substantially the entire heel portion of the sole, and a sectional shank portion of resilient material, each section of the shank portion comprising a pair of members arranged transversely of the pad, and a spacing block-between the.

pad, and spacing blocks between the paired members, said spacing blocks being adapted to be removed to permit the paired members to be moved toward each other. a

'7. A pad for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a forepart portion, a heel portion and a sectional shank portion, each section of the shank portion comprising a pair of members arranged transversely of the pad, a casing for each pair of members, and spacing 3 blocks between the paired members, said blocks being adapted to be removed and placed between the ends of said paired members and the ends of the casings.

8. A pad for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes, thepad having a sectional shank portion, each section thereof comprising a pair of members arranged transversely of the pad, a casing for each pair of members,.and spacing blocks between the paired members, said blocks being adapted to be removed and placed one at the end of each member between the outer ends of. the members and the casing.

9. A pad for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes, the shank portion of said pad having a groove extending longitudinally thereof to underlie the median line of the shank of a shoe placed thereon to relieve pressure along said median line and to concentrate the pressure on the marginal portions of the shank portion of the sole, and means whereby the groove may be narrowed and widened to accommodate shoes having shanks of difierent width.

10. Apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a box, a water bag in the box, and a resilient pad overlying the bag,

said pad'being of. rubber and having sufiicient thickness to impart a substantial yielding qualitythereto' and having its shank portion'divided into a plurality of separate sections.

11. Apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a box, a water bag in the box, and a resilient padoverlying the bag, said pad being of rubber and having sufiicient thickness to impart a substantial yielding quality thereto and having its shank portion divided into a plurality of separate sections in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pad.

12. Apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a box, a water bag in the box, and a resilient pad overlying the bag, said pad being of rubber and having suiiicient thickness to impart a substantial yielding quality thereto and having its shank portion divided along its longitudinal median line into a plurality of separate sections.

13. Apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a box, a'wate r bag in the box, and a resilient pad overlying the bag, said p'ad being of rubber and having sumcient thickness to impart a substantial yielding quality thereto and having its shank portion divided into a plurality of separate sections both transversely and longitudinally of the pad.

14. Apparatus for use in applying pressure to the: bottoms of shoes comprising a water bag, solid rubber sections overlying the bag, said sectionscomprising a forepart section and a plurality of shank sections, and a casing for at least one of the shank sections, said casing resting upon the bag.

15. A pad for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a forepart portion, a heel portion, a shank portion divided into a plurality of. separate sections, said sections each comprising a pair. of members-and a housing. for

each pair of members, the housing exposing the top portions of each pairof members.

16. Apparatus for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a box, a Water bag in the box, solid rubber sections over-lying the bag, said sections comprising a forepart section, a heel section and a plurality of shank sections, and a metal casing for each of. the shank sections to aiford metal-to-metal contact between the shank sections and promote movement of the sections relatively to each other.

17. Apparatus for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a box, a water bag in the box, solid rubber sections overlying the bag, said sections comprising .a single forepart section and a plurality of shank sections, each shank section having a contour substantially complementary to the transverse curvature of the part of the shank portion of the shoe which it is to engage, and casings housing the shank sections and resting on the bag.

18. A pad for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a forepart section, a heel portion and a sectional shank portion, each section of the shank portion comprising a pair of members arranged transversely of the pad, a casing 'for each pair of members, and spacing blocks between the members, said blocks being adapted to be removed and placed one at the end of each member between the outer end of the member and the casing.

19. A pad for use in pressing a sole against the bottom of a lasted shoe comprising a single forepart portion adapted to apply pressure to substantially the entire forepart of the sole, a single heel portion adapted to apply pressure to substantially the entire heel portion of the sole, and a shank portion of sections provided with a longitudinal median groove tounderlie the longitudinal median portion of the shank of the sole, said groove being of sufficient Width to relieve the pressure on the longitudinal median portion of the shank.

20. A pad for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising separate forepart, shank and heel sections, the shank section being provided with a groove extending longitudinally thereof to underlie the median line of the shank of a shoe placed thereon and to concentrate the pressure on the marginal portions of the shank portion of the sole, and means whereby the groove may be narrowed and widened to accommodate shoes having shanks of diiferent width.

21. A pad for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a pad box, a water bag contained in the box, solid rubber sections overlying the bag, said sections comprising a forepart section, a heel section and a plurality of shank sections to facilitate conformation of the pad to the contour of a shoe bottom, and a thin resilient plate overlying the forepart section to control the conformability of that section while permitting conformability of the other sections.

22. A pad for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a pad box, a water bag contained in the box, solid rubber sections overlying the bag, said sections comprising a foreother plate underlying the toe portion only of the first plate.

23. A pad for usein applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a pad box, a water bag contained in the box, solid rubber sections overlying the bag, said sections comprising a forepart section, a heel section and a plurality of shank sections to facilitate conformation of the pad to the contour of a shoe bottom, a thin resilient plate overlying the forepart section to control the conformability of that section while permitting conformability of the other sections, and a cover for the pad having on its lower side a projection passing through a hole in the plate and into a hole in the forepart section.

24. Apparatus for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a pad box, a solid rubber pad in the box the operative face of said pad having a contour to correspond roughly to that of the bottom of a shoe, and a thin flexible cover for the pad having attached permanently to it a protuberance on its lower side adapted to enter a corresponding hole in. the solid rubber pad.

25. Apparatus for applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad box, a water bag in the pad box, a solid rubber pad overlying the water bag, a thin resilient plate overlying the forepart of the solid rubber pad, a cover for the pad having on its lower side a protuberance extending through a hole in the plate and into a corresponding hole in the solid rubber pad, a mask plate on the pad box engaging the marginal portion of the forepart of the cover, and clips at the rear end of the pad box under which the rear end of the cover may be thrust to hold it in place, the cover being removable from beneath said clips to afford access to the first-mentioned plate to facilitate its removal.

26. Apparatus foruse in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a pad box, a water bag contained in the box, a solid rubber pad overlying the bag, said pad being split from the toe end substantially to the tip line, and a metal plate inserted in the split to control longitudinal bending of the toe portion only of the pad.

27. Apparatus for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a pad box, a water bag contained in the box, a solid rubber pad overlying the bag, said pad being split at its toe end, and a triangular plate inserted in the split with one of its points located substantially under that portion of the pad which receives the center of the toe portion of the shoe.

28. Apparatus for use in applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes comprising a pad box, a water bag contained in the box, a solid rubber pad overlying the bag, a mask plate secured to the box and overlying the pad, said pad being split at its toe end, and a triangular plate inserted in the split with one of its points located substantially under that portion of the pad which receives the center of the toe portion of the shoe, said triangular plate having on the side opposite said point a flange arranged to engage the mask plate and prevent upward bending of the toe portion of the pad in response to pressure applied thereto by the shoe.

29. A pad for use in pressing an outsole against the bottom of a lasted shoe, the shank portion of said pad being made of transversely extending sections of solid material, the operative face of said shank portion being provided with a longitudinally extending groove adapted to underto substantially the entire forepart of the sole lie the median longitudinal portion of the shank portion of the outsole of a shoe so as to concentrate a yielding pressure upon the margins, of the shank portion ofthe sole. a v

30. A pad for use in applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe comprising a single solid rubber forepart portion adapted to apply pressure of the shoe, asingle solid rubber heel portion adapted to apply pressure to substantially the entire heel portion of the sole, and a shank portion made up of a plurality of sections.

SIDNEY J. FINN. 

